Page 111 of Until I Own You

She’s standing at the lip of the karaoke stage, cheering on someone, maybe a friend, who is doing a rendition of The Stranger by Billy Joel. “Not a fan of short hair.”

“God, how antiquated of you.” Jack rolls his eyes.

“Do you like her?”

Jack bites his lip and leans back on our table, ticking the fingers on one hand. “She’s hot.”

“There you go. So, why didn’t you just say that?”

“I don’t know, Seth. Don’t you think this whole trip is kinda stupid?” Jack’s brown eyes look sad.

I gulp. “W-what do you mean?”

Jack looks over at the bar where Abigail and Bridget are still waiting for their drinks. “You know Abigail doesn’t just want to fuck around and find out. This isn’t just some hurrah for her. She wants to settle down the way everyone else has.”

I frown. “Doesn’t sound like Abigail…”

“Okay, she hasn’t told me that outright, but–”

“She’s still so young. She’s got so much time. We all do.” I don’t say I don’t want more time. I already know what I want.

“I just know it’s kinda getting annoying for her that everyone is coupled or throupled up and–”

“Are you sure you’re not projecting, Jack?” I raise an eyebrow.

My friend hesitates. “Well–”

“I understand, buddy.” I smile.

He sighs. “Okay, fine. Fine. I would like to meet a woman to have a long-term relationship with. True. But I’m not going to find her in Key West! People here are from all over. Including Florida. And lord knows I’m not dating a Floridian.”

I laugh. “You’re ridiculous. What’s wrong with Floridians?”

Jack shakes his head, eyes widening. “They’re crazy, man. They’ve got a death wish.”

“You want me to go talk to her?” I nod toward the blonde.

Jack sighs. “I don’t know. I think this whole thing is–”

I notice Bridget moving through the crowd again out of the corner of my eye and all my attention is drawn back to her. I don’t hear a thing Jac says. The universe pinpricks a spotlight on Bridget. She is the one and the only.

Since our session in the kitchen yesterday, the truth has become clearer every second. The thought I try to push away is refusing to be put swept aside.

I don’t know if she realized this the way I did, but that was the first time we just…fucked. Not in scene. Not after a scene.

Just us out in the world, two people with pent up desperation, tearing each other to ribbons of pleasure.

That could be our life. Out of the Underground. Out in the world.

I know a life isn’t made up of only sexual encounters.

That’s somewhere we can start, though, right?

Here is the truth: if I don’t make her mine, I’m afraid I’ll be lost.

I’ve made the past ten years of my life all Bridget, all the time. I’ve come so far. To lose her now would…it would just kill me. And I’m not sure that’s an exaggeration.

“Where’s Abs?” Jack calls out as Bridget gets closer.

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